An interview with Michael Bostwick is a rare treat. The Lincoln City utility man is not interested in the media spotlight.

That isn’t out of rudeness. On the contrary, Bostwick is a quiet but engaging chap, who, in his own words, likes to let his football do the talking.

“I know sometimes it doesn’t come across that well because it doesn’t seem like I’m interacting with people, but I try to do all of my talking on the pitch and leave this sort of stuff to other people,” says Bostwick.

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Wembley news

That said, it would be remiss not to speak to Bostwick ahead of the Imps’ maiden trip to Wembley.

While the national stadium is uncharted territory for the club, Bostwick is almost a regular. Sunday’s Checkatrade Trophy final will be his fifth appearance at Wembley.

The 29-year-old has played at the home of English football for three different clubs – Ebbsfleet, Stevenage and Peterborough.

It is his first trip which stands out, as a teenager with Ebbsfleet in the final of the FA Trophy.

“The first one was obviously special for myself because I’d never played there before. And we won 1-0,” he recalls.

“I must have been 18 or 19, I was just starting out. It was an amazing day out.

“I was nervous, but then I’m nervous before most games, that’s the way I am. It shows that you care I guess, it’s a good thing for me.”

Michael Bostwick (Image: Chris Vaughan/CameraSport)

Bostwick played in two other FA Trophy finals with Stevenage, winning one and losing the other.

He has also played in the final of the EFL Trophy, winning it with Peterborough in 2014.

“Whenever you go there, it’s going to be amazing – for the players, the fans, everyone involved in the club. To win there just tops it off, it makes it extra special.

“It’s always a good atmosphere there, but especially with our fans. It will probably be like nothing I’ve experienced before.

“You just had to be here on Saturday [this interview is taking place three days after the derby win over Grimsby] to see what they’re like. Imagine them in their numbers at Wembley – it’s going to be amazing.

“The fans have given us so much all season, so it’s nice to give them something back. They’ve been a massive part of what we’ve done this year. Without them, I don’t know where we’d be.”

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Bostwick is also a major reason the Imps have made it to Wembley after delivering an inspired man-of-the-match display in the semi-final victory over Chelsea Under-21s.

During the course of the tie, he told Danny Cowley in no uncertain terms that he was going to get him to Wembley.

“You always say stuff in the heat of the moment,” he says with a wry smile. “I wish I could play like that every week. It wasn’t because Wembley was at the end of it, I just love winning football matches.”

For most of the squad, it will be their first appearance of playing at the 90,000-capacity venue, but Bostwick expects his teammates to cope with the occasion.

“Your first action in the game needs to be positive, that helps you settle down,” he adds.

“The squad we’ve got will cope with the game very well. We’ve got a great bunch of lads and I don’t think many of them will suffer from nerves too much. And with any nerves you do get, you should just turn them into positive energy.”

Another way Bostwick deals with any pre-match anxiety resolves around superstitions – lots of them.

“I’ve got loads,” he confesses. “If I was to tell you them all, I’d be here all day. I am quite superstitious, I guess that’s just the crazy side of me.

“I started doing them years ago, back when I was a kid. I still wear the same shinpads I had when I was 14. There’s holes in them, there’s cracks in them, they don’t do much really, but I would never change them. They’ve always kept me safe. It’s one of those things I don’t like to change.”

Bostwick’s commitment and consistency have made him a fans’ favourite and a key man for Cowley, who says he would like two of him. It was a real coup for the Imps when they lured him to Sincil Bank last summer.

Family reasons played a part in his decision to drop down to League Two and turn down a move to Blackburn, among others, but he was also enthused by the club’s ambition, which it is certainly delivering on at present.

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“Obviously I’d seen the success of last season and the gaffer spoke about what the club is like,” recalls Bostwick. “But you don’t quite understand it until you get here. The fans, the staff – it’s a great club to be at.

“I like to enjoy what I do and, hopefully, win things. So it’s been the perfect club to come to.”

Bostwick has been equally reliable in both the centre of defence and midfield this season.

On Sunday, he is likely to be in defence with both James Wilson and Scott Wharton cup-tied.

“I don’t mind where I play, I just want to be out there,” offers Bostwick. “If the gaffer said I was playing left-back, I’d play there.

“It’s not really a problem for me, as long as I can do my bit for the team.

“I’ve done it a lot over my career, switching between the two positions. I enjoy playing in both so wherever gaffer plays me, I’ll just focus on that position and nothing else.”

We have special Imps foam hands to give away with the first 500 copies of the Echo sold from Marshalls Newsagents in the Waterside today (Thursday).